Review
A rationale and model for addressing tobacco dependence in substance abuse treatment
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* Corresponding author: Kimber P Richter krichter@kumc.edu
1 Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
2 Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
3 Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, USA
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2006, 1:23 doi:10.1186/1747-597X-1-23
Published: 14 August 2006Abstract
Most persons in drug treatment smoke cigarettes. Until drug treatment facilities systematically treat their patients' tobacco use, millions will flow through the drug treatment system, overcome their primary drug of abuse, but die prematurely from tobacco-related illnesses. This paper reviews the literature on the health benefits of quitting smoking for drug treatment patients, whether smoking causes relapse to other drug or alcohol abuse, the treatment of tobacco dependence, and good and bad times for quitting smoking among drug treatment patients. It also presents a conceptual model and recommendations for treating tobacco in substance abuse treatment, and provides references to internet and paper-copy tools and information for treating tobacco dependence. At present, research on tobacco treatment in drug treatment is in its infancy. Although few drug treatment programs currently offer formal services, many more will likely begin to treat nicotine dependence as external forces and patient demand for these services increases. In the absence of clear guidelines and attention to quality of care, drug treatment programs may adopt smoking cessation services based on cost, convenience, or selection criteria other than efficacy. Because research in this field is relatively new, substance abuse treatment professionals should adhere to the standards of care for the general population, but be prepared to update their practices with emerging interventions that have proven to be effective for patients in drug treatment.